Turning conveyor for a flexible hose supporting system

ABSTRACT

In a flexible hose supporting system wherein the flexible hose is supported by interconnected wheeled carts along a mine floor, an arcuate conveyor assembly supports the wheeled carts around a determined angle of turn. The conveyor assembly features interconnected subframes, each of which spans a portion of the angle of turn. Vertical support rollers hold the wheeled carts off of the mine floor, and guide rollers, spaced along inner and outer curvilinearly parallel guide curves, turn the carts through the angle of turn. Anchor means hold the conveyor assemblies stationary relative to the mine.

United States Patent Umphrey July 22, 1975 i 1 TURNING CONVEYOR FOR A FLEXIBLE HOSE SUPPORTING SYSTEM Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek V F -W'll M'll [75] Inventor: Ronald W. Umphrey, Ponca City, Attorney Agent or [rm J 1 er Okla.

57 ABSTRACT [73] Assignee: Continental Oil Company, Ponca I I Ci O In a flexible hose supporting system wherein the flexible hose is supported by interconnected wheeled carts [22] Fled: May 1974 along a mine floor, an arcuate conveyor assembly sup- [21] A 1 N 470,068 ports the wheeled carts around a determined angle of turn. The conveyor assembly features interconnected subframes, each of which spans a portion of the angle 137/344 355 of turn. Vertical support rollers hold the wheeled carts Ill. g Off of the mine floor, and guide rollers p e along [58] Field of Search 137/344, 355.l6,.355.l7; inner and outer curvilinear), Parana guide Curves 191/12 302/14 turn the carts through the angle of turn. Anchor means hold the conveyor assemblies stationary rela [56] References Cited tive to the mine UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1974 Touton [37/344 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures A discussion of coal mining techniques may be found in the patent to Reichl, U25. Pat. No. 3.260.548. That patent teaches a method and apparatus for continuously mining and transporting coal from a mining machine to a terminus locatedremote' to the mining machine. The underground lode of coal is'mined by cutting a series of rooms forced in a manner that leaves walls or retaining piers'the rebe'tween. To gain access to the area whereat roo'rnsare to be-cut, entry passages are cut from a terminus, or mine entry, and a mining machine is passed therethrough enroute to prospective room areas.v f

The mining machine cuts the coal ore from the mine, pulverizes the ore, and forms a slurry of the'pulverized coal ore with water. The slurry is subsequently piped from the mine ma'cl'iin e toa remote processing point,

which is usually located outside of the mine. The hoses carrying water to the mining machine, and slurry therefrom, lead from outside ofthe' mine tothe mining machine via the prepared passageways/In'order that the mining machine not berestricted by its supply hoses, at least a portion of the water and slurry hoses comprise flexible hose lines that'enable the mining machine to advance or retreat free of the influence of the hoses. This method of coal'mining has presented the problem of maintaining and regu'lating'thelen gth of the flexible hoses leadingto the mining machine. Thatis, as the machine advances, the flexible hoses must follow the machine freely. on the other hand, as the mining machine retreats, the flexible hoses must be controllably withdrawn in 'orderto permit the machine freedom of movement. As shown in the patent to Reichl, the usual practice is to provide a series of loops to regulate the slack of the flexible hoses to the mining machine.

The inventor herein has previously suggested, the use of a loop-forming eoriveybr dispos ed within a late ral passagewayand supp oi 'ting the flexible hoses by a plurality of wheeled carts. The flexible hoses are maintained in the, lateral passageway in a manner that takes up the slack of the flexible hoses in an unused portion of the passageway. The inventor further has previously suggested means to controllably move the loop-forming conveyor within the lateral passageway of the mine.

One problem that has ari sen in the flexible hose supporting system described aboye isthat of manipulating, or turning, the flexible hose on the mine floor. A flexible hose .supportedby a plurality of linked-together wheeled carts can Bepuued readily in a straight line path. However, it is difficult to cause the flexible hose to turn around a corner or to negotiate even a small bend because ofthe' straight-line guidance provided the wheeled carts along the mine floor. In alflexi ble hose regulating system wherein the flexible hose ;is turned around corners to travel from mine passageways that may follow a curving or bending course, the problem is to provide means "to negotiate such course while permitting-freedom of travel or extension of the flexible hose asrequir'ed.

SUMMARYOF THE INvENTIoN The present inventioncontemplates a slack regulating system for flexible hose which includes a flexible hose supported on a plurality of cartsthat are linked together along the length of the hose and which are pivotally interconnected-for generally horizontal pivotation. A conveyor assembly is provided wherein the hose is required to be moved through a determined angle of turn, the conveyor assembly comprising a frame having a plurality of vertical support rollers that provide a planar surface of support for the carts, and a plurality of inner and outer horizontal guide rollers that are spaced tion will be evident in. the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments of the invention. I I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows in diagrammatical form a wheeled cart supported flexible hose being turned about several corners of varying angles of turn.

' FIG. 2 is a. semi-detailed plan view of the conveyor' assembly of the present invention in which the angle of turn is u g FIG. 3'is a plan view of a subframe and rollers of the present invention.

FIG- 4 is a cross-sectional view taken at 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an end frame and rollers of the present invention. I

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken at 6-6 in FIG.-

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIos. 2-6

I Referring to the drawings in general, and to FIG. 1 in particular, shown therein is a flexible hose supporting system 10 which is depicted as having a plurality of wheels 12 spaced at intervals along the flexible hose 14. As was discussed above for the prior art, the flexible hose supporting system 10 comprises spaced-apart wheels 12, a plurality ofconnecting links, and the hose 14, which in practice may be several hoses. These components are not shown in detail, as it ,is sufficient to state that the flexible hose 14, as depicted in FIG. 1, is capable of pivoting along the mine floor 16 of the passageway 18 shown diagrammatically curling through the mine 20.

As the wheel supported hose-.14 moves in the direction 22, or. in the opposite direction 24, it is apparent that the hose would. be unable to negotiate the corners of the passageway 18 without the means provided by the present invention. Shown in FIG. 1 is a corner 26 having an angle of turn equal to 60; at corner 28, the angle of turn is l20; at corner 30, the angle of turn is 90. These angles of turn have been shown in order to illustrate that the hose 14 may be required to negotiate a wide range of corner angles.

FIG. 2.is .a semi-detailed plan view of the conveyor assembly 32, which is an arcuate conveyor spanning an angle of turn of 90. Conveyor assembly 32 comprises a frame 34 that has a plurality of eyelets 36 at spacedapart points along the edges of the frame, and to which are attached the guy wires 38 tautly attached to the stationary jacks 40. Conventional guy wires 38 and jacks 40 serve as anchor means whereby the conveyor assembly 32 is secured in a stationary position relative to the mine 20. I

The frame 34 is made up of a number of subframes 42, one of which is shown in plan view in FIG. 3. Subframe 42 comprises the angle iron members 44 and 46 that are welded to opposite ends of the angle iron members 48 and 50, the latter members being established with a segment or sector angle 52 therebetween. The angle iron members are welded so that the top surfaces 54 all lay in coplanar relationship. Although angle iron members 48 and 50 are shown fitted flush with members 44 and 46, they may be extended for the purpose of providing anchoring attachment points, not illustrated in the FIGURES.

It should be noted that the sector angle 52 as shown in FIG. 3 spans a 30 angle, and three of these 30 subframes 42 are shown in FIG. 2, making up a total angle of turn of 90. In other words, the angle of span of the conveyor assembly 32, which is 90 in FIG. 2, is equal to the sum of the sector angles of the subframes 42 making up theframe 34.

The subframes 42 are positioned in juxtaposition as shown in FIG, 2 so that the surfaces 54 referred to In FIG. 3 all align in coplanar relationship. Lugs 60 are provided at each of the corners of subframe 42, and as shown in FIG. 4, are apertured. When the subframes 42 are placed side by side, these apertures align and conventional bolting means connect therethrough for securedly holding the subframes in rigid contiguous relationship.

Connected to the angle iron members 48 and 50 at the surfaces 54 is the support plate 56, connected by conventional bolt means at the connectors 58, Although the plate 56 is shown as only partially covering the area bounded by the angle iron members 44, 46, 48 and 50, it can be made to cover all of this area, or other covering may be provided to provide a buoyancy effect when used on a soft floor.

Attached to and extending from the support plate 56 are the roller blocks 62, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 1 The form of these roller blocks 62 are conveniently chosen to be several plates sized and shaped as shown to accommodate the rollers as will now be described. Pivotally supported thereby are the horizontal rollers 64 that serve as outer guide rollers, as will be made clear below. The spindles or axles 66 about which the rollers 64 rotate are positioned by the proper placement of the blocks 62 so that the centers of the rollers 64 lay on an outer guide curve 68.

Also extending from the support plate 56 are the 'rolmentioned along an inner guide curve 74. It will be apparent that the spacing between the rollers, as deter- 4 mined by the spacing between theinner and outer guide curves, and by the dimcnsionsof the rollers, is pre-determined to form the guide surfaces for the flexible hose supporting system 10. Shown in FIG. 4 in broken line fashion is a double hose arrangement 14 having hose 76 supported over hose 78 by the hose clamp 80, This arrangementis supported by means of a plurality of support blocks 82 that connect to the wheeled carts 84. Underneath each cart 84, a guide beam 86 is welded thereto. As shown in FIG; 4, horizontal rollers 64 and 72 roll along the sides of beam 86 upon contact and provide guidance thereto.

The inner guide curve 74, the outer guide curve 68, and the angle iron members 48, 50emanate from the same point so that the curves are concentric. Therefore, theouter edges of the subframc defines a sector with each of these curves, the angle 52 being the sector angle. While the'curves 68, 74are shown as concentric,

they can be described ascurvilinearly parallel, since the present invention comtemplates the broader. application of curvilinear conveyor travel. I

The support of the carts 84 andconnecting links is provided by the vertical support rollers 88 that are rotating ly supported .between the blocks 62 and 70. As shown in FIG. 3, o nly two of the outer rollers 64 are provided for three, of the inner rollers 72. Therefore, a support mount 90 is ;,provided opposite to the center block 72 for supporting the center vertical support roller. The purpose of this is to providea clear zone for the links to pass, since they do not provide perfect curvature as they pivot, allowing the hose to flex. As has been described in the prior art, this is referred to as kickout of the pivot points. The rollers 88 are mounted so that they provide a planar support area at points 92 for thefbeams .86 I

Connected to the end ot the frame 34 are the end Conveyors 100, one of which is shown in plan view in FIG. 5. The construction of the end conveyors is similar to that of the subframes 42, described above, except that the angle iron sides 102, 104, 106, and 108 make up the end frame 110, which has the shape of a parallelogram, Each of the top surfaces 112 of the angle iron mernber's'l02, 104, l 0.6,"and 108 have a coplanar relationshi and apertured lugs 114 are provided for matching with. the, apertured lugs 60 for connecting therewith pyponventional bolting means'for rigid attachment. The width (length of sides 106, 10 8) of the end conveyors100 may be varied, and these may be linked by conventional bolt means to provide any desired length of straight conveyor in combination with the subframe 42. Ofcourse, the number of rollers may be increased as required for proper support and guidance.

Connected to the angle iron. members 102 and 104 by connector means "I116 is support plate 1 18. Attached to and extending from'support plate 118 are a' pair of support bloclgs 120. To the top of each of the support blocks 120 is a pair of spaced-apart plates 122. A roller 124 is rollin'gly' mounted by means of a bearing spindle 126 ateach end of'platesjl22and spaced therebetween, the spindles" 126 received in appropriately spaced apertures in the plates 122. These rollers 124 are horizontally disposed and spaced apart so as to rollingly engage each side of the beam 86 as do the inner and outer horizontal guide rollers of subframes 42.

Pivotally'r'riounted between, the support blocks 120 on the stationary arbor: connected between the blocks, is the rocker-roller assembly 130. The rockerroller assembly 130 eomprises'two parallel plates 132 that are spaced apart by the stays '135 and which are rockingly mounted via an appropriately sized aperture through which the arbor 128passes. FIG. 6, taken at cross section 66 in FIG. 5, shows the rocker-roller assembly 130 in elevation view. At the ends of the parallel plates 132 are the vertical support rollers 134 that are mounted on spindles journaled. in appropriately sized and aligned apertures in the parallel plates 132 as shown. I I I I Referring once again to FIG. 2, a first end conveyor 100 is placed at one end of the conveyor assembly 32, and a second end conveyor 100 to the other end of the conveyor assembly 32. The purpose of this is to provide .a straightconveyor travel segment as an entry portion to the arcuate-shaped conveyor assembly 32. Another use of the end conveyors 100, not illustrated, is that of being positioned periodically on a straightway for minor guidance adjustment where linkage supporting hose 14 tends to drift or wander.

While the description above has dealt with three of the subframes 42 interconnected for rigidside-by-side disposition, it should be clearthat several of the subframes 42 are capable of being interconnected so as to give a wide choice of the angle of turn tobe spanned thereby. Referring to' the example given in FIG. 1, this becomes clear upon viewing the various angles of turn found at the corners 26, 28, and 30. While the sector angle 52 has been defined as 30 for the preferred embodiment described herein, it is also in the contemplation of this invention that subframe 42 can be made having a variety of sector angles; for example, and 15 sector angles, which would provide the capability of spanning angles not divisible by units of 30. For example, a subframe of 30 connected to a subframe of 15 would provide a 45 angle of turn. By selecting modules of sector angles, it is possible to assemble subframes in order to span any desired angle of turn.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In operation, the route is selected through the pas sageways 18 for the flexible hose supporting system 10. Once this is laid out, the corners around which the flexible hose 14 must turn are determined, and the conveyor assemblies can be assembled having the appropriate angle of turn at each of the corners for the hose to turn about.

At each of the corners (for example, at corner 28 in FIG. 1), the anchor means comprising jacks 40 and guy wires 38 secure the conveyor assembly via eyelets 36 so that the conveyor assembly is fixedly established relative to the mine 20. The dimensions of the conveyor assembly 32, and particularly those of the support blocks 62, 70, and 120 are established to support the wheeled carts 84 off of the floor, and in a manner that the wheels 12 also clear the top surfaces 54 and 112 of the subframes 42'and end frames 110, as shown in FIG.

Without further comment being necessary, it will be clear that the wheeled carts and links are turned through the appropriate angle of turn at each of the corners via the beam 86 being supported by the vertical support rollers 88, 134, and guided by the horizontal rollers 64, 72, 124. The rocker-roller assemblies 130, pivotally providing the vertical support in the end conveyors 100, are provided as variably sloped entryways to the subframes 42, the rocker-roller assemblies serving as bogie rockers.

It is clear that the invention described herein above provides a turning conveyor for the flexible hose supporting system that meets all of the objectives listed above. Changes may be made in the construction and the arrangement of the parts or the elements of the embodiment disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

.1. In a supporting system for flexible hose which includes at least one flexible hose supported by a plurality of carts linkingly spaced along the length of the hose and pivotally interconnected, and wherein the hose is required to be moved through a determined angle of turn, the improvement comprising:

a conveyor assembly comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of vertical support rollers connected to the frame, said rollers forming a planar surface of support for the slack regulating system;

a plurality of outer horizontal guide rollers connected to the frame at spaced-apart points along an outer guide curve;

a plurality of innerhorizontal guide rollers connected to the frame at spaced-apart points along an inner guide curve, the inner guide curve being curvilinearly parallel to the outer guide curve; and,

anchor means securing said conveyor assembly in a stationary position.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of subframes, the subframes being interconnected, and at least one of the vertical support rollers, at least one of the horizontal guide rollers, and at least one of the inner guide rollers are connected to each of the subframes.

3. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising:

a first end conveyor comprising:

a first end frame;

an outer horizontal guide roller connected to the first end frame;

an inner horizontal guide roller connected to the first end frame;

a vertically supporting rocker-roller assembly connected to the first end frame; and,

connector means connecting the first end conveyor to one end of the conveyor assembly.

4. The improvement of claim 3 further comprising:

a second end conveyor comprising:

a second end frame;

an outer horizontal guide roller connected to the second end frame;

an inner horizontal guide roller connected to the second end frame;

a vertically supporting rocker-roller assembly connected to the second end roller; and,

connector means connecting the second end conveyor to the other end of the conveyor assembly.

5. In a system for transporting a slurry from a mining machine in a mine having a floor, and which includes at least one flexible hose supported by a plurality of wheeled carts spaced along the length of the hose and links pivotally interconnected with one another and the carts for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane, and wherein the hose is required to be moved through a determined angle of turn, the improvement comprising:

an arcuate conveyor assembly spanning the angle of turn, comprising: a frame, comprising:

a plurality of subframes, each subframe having a planar surface and spanning a determined sector angle, the sum of the sector angles of the subframes being equal to the angle of turn of the arcuate conveyor assembly;

; subframe connecting means interconnecting the subframes in juxtaposition with the planar surface of each generally in coplanar relationship;

a plurality of vertical support rollers connected to v the frame, said vertical support rollers forming a planar surface of support for the carts and links,

and at least one of the vertical support rollers connected to each subframe;

a plurality of outer horizontal guide rollers connected to the frame at spaced-apart points along an outer guide curve, at least one of the horizontal guide rollers connected to each subframe;

a plurality of inner horizontal guide rollers connected to the frame at'spaced-apart points along an inner guide curve, the inner guide curve being curvilinearly parallel to the outer guide curve, and at least one of the inner horizontal guide rollers connected to each of the subframes;

anchor means securing said conveyor assembly to a 8 stationary position relative to the mine. 6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the conveyor assembly further comprises:

a first end conveyor comprising:

a first end frame;

an outer horizontal guide roller connected to the a vertically supporting rocker-roller assembly connected to the second end frame; and, connector means connecting the second end conveyor to the other end of the conveyor assembly. 8. The improvement of claim 5 wherein each of the subframes spans a sector angle of 30. 

1. In a supporting system for flexible hose which includes at least one flexible hose supported by a plurality of carts linkingly spaced along the length of the hose and pivotally interconnected, and wherein the hose is required to be moved through a determined angle of turn, the improvement comprising: a conveyor assembly comprising: a frame; a plurality of vertical support rollers connected to the frame, said rollers forming a planar surface of support for the slack regulating system; a plurality of outer horizontal guide rollers connected to the frame at spaced-apart points along an outer guide curve; a plurality of inner horizontal guide rollers connected to the frame at spaced-apart points along an inner guide curve, the inner guide curve being curvilinearly parallel to the outer guide curve; and, anchor means securing said conveyor assembly in a stationary position.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a plurality of subframes, the subframes being interconnected, and at least one of the vertical support rollers, at least one of the horizontal guide rollers, and at least one of the inner guide rollers are connected to each of the subframes.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising: a first end conveyor comprising: a first end frame; an outer horizontal guide roller connected to the first end frame; an inner horizontal guide roller connected to the first end frame; a vertically supporting rocker-roller assembly connected to the first end frame; and, connector means connecting the First end conveyor to one end of the conveyor assembly.
 4. The improvement of claim 3 further comprising: a second end conveyor comprising: a second end frame; an outer horizontal guide roller connected to the second end frame; an inner horizontal guide roller connected to the second end frame; a vertically supporting rocker-roller assembly connected to the second end roller; and, connector means connecting the second end conveyor to the other end of the conveyor assembly.
 5. In a system for transporting a slurry from a mining machine in a mine having a floor, and which includes at least one flexible hose supported by a plurality of wheeled carts spaced along the length of the hose and links pivotally interconnected with one another and the carts for pivotal movement in a generally horizontal plane, and wherein the hose is required to be moved through a determined angle of turn, the improvement comprising: an arcuate conveyor assembly spanning the angle of turn, comprising: a frame, comprising: a plurality of subframes, each subframe having a planar surface and spanning a determined sector angle, the sum of the sector angles of the subframes being equal to the angle of turn of the arcuate conveyor assembly; subframe connecting means interconnecting the subframes in juxtaposition with the planar surface of each generally in coplanar relationship; a plurality of vertical support rollers connected to the frame, said vertical support rollers forming a planar surface of support for the carts and links, and at least one of the vertical support rollers connected to each subframe; a plurality of outer horizontal guide rollers connected to the frame at spaced-apart points along an outer guide curve, at least one of the horizontal guide rollers connected to each subframe; a plurality of inner horizontal guide rollers connected to the frame at spaced-apart points along an inner guide curve, the inner guide curve being curvilinearly parallel to the outer guide curve, and at least one of the inner horizontal guide rollers connected to each of the subframes; anchor means securing said conveyor assembly to a stationary position relative to the mine.
 6. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the conveyor assembly further comprises: a first end conveyor comprising: a first end frame; an outer horizontal guide roller connected to the first end frame; an inner horizontal guide roller connected to the first end frame; a vertically supporting rocker-roller assembly connected to the first end frame; and, connector means connecting the first end conveyor to one end of the conveyor assembly.
 7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein the conveyor assembly further comprises: a second end conveyor comprising: a second end frame; an outer horizontal guide roller connected to the second end frame; an inner horizontal guide roller connected to the second end frame; a vertically supporting rocker-roller assembly connected to the second end frame; and, connector means connecting the second end conveyor to the other end of the conveyor assembly.
 8. The improvement of claim 5 wherein each of the subframes spans a sector angle of 30*. 